Protection plate for wearing part attachment, and method for wear protection of a wearing part attachment

ABSTRACT

A protection element (13) for a wearing-part attachment (12) for a wearing part (11) for a leading edge of a working member (1), the wearing part (13) and the wearing-part attachment (12) being provided with complementary quick-coupling elements (112, 122), and a leading side surface (132) of the protection element (13) including a wearing portion (135) and being arranged, by the engagement of an attachment portion (131) with at least the quick-coupling elements (112) of the wearing part (11), to rest supportedly against a leading end face (121) of the wearing-part attachment (12). A method of wear-protecting a wearing-part attachment (12) for a wearing part (11) for a leading edge of a working member (1), the wearing part (13) and the wearing-part attachment (12) being provided with complementary quick-coupling elements (112, 122), wherein the method includes: bringing a protection element (13) into engagement between quick-coupling holders (111) at a rear wearing-part portion (113) of the wearing part (11); connecting the wearing part (11) and the wearing-part attachment (12) to each other; and placing the protection element (13) supportedly against a leading end face (121) and so that it projects above a plane coinciding with a top surface (124) of the wearing-part attachment (12).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage of International PatentApplication No. PCT/NO2014/050233, filed on Dec. 11, 2014, which claimsthe benefit of Norwegian Patent Application No. 20131742, filed on Dec.27, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a protective element for a wearing-partattachment for a wearing part for a leading edge of a working member ofan earth-working implement, the wearing part and the wearing-partattachment being provided with complementary quick-coupling elements,and a leading side surface of the protection element including a wearingportion. Further, the invention relates to a method of wear-protecting awearing-part attachment for a wearing part for a leading edge of aworking member of an earth-working implement, the wearing part and thewearing-part attachment being provided with complementary quick-couplingelements.

Earth-working implements, for example ploughs, harrows, excavatorbuckets and so on, are often provided with replaceable wearing parts inthe form of wearing points, teeth and so on. To facilitate thereplacement of such wearing parts, it is known to attach the wearingpart to a wearing-part attachment by means of a quick-coupling. To havea desired effect of the quick-coupling system, it is obvious that thelifetime of the wearing-part attachment must be at least double thelifetime of the wearing part. In practice, it has turned out thatextraordinary precautions must be taken at the wearing-part attachmentto achieve the desired lifetime. The precautions may include applying aharder material, for example by hardfacing with a hard-metal coating orsoldering with hard-metal elements, to the surface or surfaces of thewearing-part attachment that is/are subjected to the greatest wear,typically portions facing the material flow passing the wearing-partattachment.

Welding or soldering involves the necessity of supplying a relativelylarge amount of heat energy to the wearing-part attachment for thewearing-part attachment to achieve the desired temperature so that asufficiently good adherence is provided between the hard metal and thewearing-part attachment. It is known in the art that a great differencein mass between the elements that are to be joined is disadvantageous.For example, if the wearing-part attachment has been hardened prior tothe application of hard metal, the supply of heat may take the hardeningout of an unduly large portion of the wearing-part attachment. A similarproblem is associated with treating the wearing-part attachment withother materials, for example carbon to carbidize a portion of thewearing-part attachment, or nitrogen to nitrate a portion of thewearing-part attachment.

SUMMARY

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of thedrawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative tothe prior art.

The object is achieved through features, which are specified in thedescription below and in the claims that follow.

An invention has been provided, in which a wearing-part attachment for awearing part for a leading edge of an earth-working implement has beenshielded by a separate protection element. The mass ratio of a wearingportion, with which a portion of the protection element is provided, toa supporting element of the protection element is favourable seen from aheat-economy point of view, as there is no supply of heat energy to thewearing-part attachment when the wearing portion is being attached.

The protection element is arranged upstream of a leading portion of thewearing-part attachment, as an attachment portion of the protectionelement is arranged to engage with quick-coupling elements on thewearing-part attachment or the wearing part, typically in the form ofguiding portions formed as projecting ridges on the attachment portionof the wearing part and arranged to lockingly engage with complementarygrooves in the wearing-part attachment. When the wearing part has beenfixed to the wearing-part attachment, the protection element will beheld in position between the wearing part and the wearing-partattachment and rest supportedly against a leading end face of thewearing-part attachment.

At least an upper portion of a leading side surface of the protectionelement is provided with a wearing portion, for example in the form of ahard metal, typically provided by a plate element, for example a carbidesteel, having been attached to the leading side surface. It isconceivable for the wearing portion to be provided in a variety of ways.In its simplest form, a plate element from a carbide steel can besoldered or glued to the protection element, a ceramic plate element canbe glued, a hard-metal coating can be vaporized, an upper portion of theprotection element can be treated with a suitable gas, typically carbonfor carbidizing or nitrogen for nitrating. Irrespective of the waychosen to achieve the desired effect, it is a relatively small elementthat is to go through a process for providing sufficient wear strengthfor the protection element that is to prevent wear on the relativelymuch larger wearing-part attachment.

In a first aspect, the invention relates more specifically to aprotection element for a wearing-part attachment for a wearing part fora leading edge of a working member of an earth-working implement, thewearing part and the wearing-part attachment being provided withcomplementary quick-coupling elements, and a leading side surface of theprotection element including a wearing portion, characterized by theprotection element being arranged, by the engagement of an attachmentportion with at least the quick-coupling elements of the wearing part,to be held in position between the wearing part and the wearing-partattachment and rest supportedly against a leading end face of thewearing-part attachment, projecting above a plane coinciding with a topsurface of the wearing-part attachment, the attachment portion having asectional profile complementary to the cross section of thequick-coupling element of the wearing part, and wherein the protectionelement is formed as a plate, in which the attachment portion isprovided with notches and/or projecting portions complementary to thecross-sectional shape of the quick-coupling elements.

The wearing portion is arranged at a distance from the attachmentportion.

The wearing portion may be taken from a group consisting of a plateelement fixed to the plate by soldering or gluing, a coating applied tothe plate in vapour form and an upper plate portion with a molecularstructure in which a hardness-increasing substance has been added.

The plate element may be formed from carbide steel.

The plate element may be formed from ceramics.

In a second aspect, the invention relates more specifically to a methodof wear-protecting a wearing-part attachment for a wearing part for aleading edge of a working member of an earth-working implement, thewearing part and the wearing-part attachment being provided withcomplementary quick-coupling elements, characterized by the methodincluding the following steps:

-   -   bringing an attachment portion of a protection element into        engagement between quick-coupling sockets at a rear wearing-part        portion of the wearing part, the attachment portion having a        sectional profile complementary to the cross section of the        quick-coupling element of the wearing part;    -   connecting the wearing part and the wearing-part attachment to        each other by engagement of said quick-coupling elements; and    -   placing the protection element supportedly against a leading end        face of the wearing-part attachment and so that it projects        above a plane coinciding with a top surface of the wearing-part        attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described,which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a leading portion of a working member,shown here as a cultivator tine, in which a leading end face of awearing-part attachment is shielded by a protection element according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the leading portion of the working member;

FIG. 3 shows, on a larger scale, a longitudinal section III-IIIaccording to FIG. 2 through the leading portion of the working member;and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section IV-IV according to FIG. 3 through thewearing part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a leading portion of aworking member, illustrated here as a cultivator tine, provided with awearing part 11 arranged on a leading edge of the working member 1. Thewearing part 11 is provided with a quick-coupling holder 111 includingquick-coupling elements 112 (see FIG. 4 in particular), shown here asridges forming guide portions for engagement with complementary couplinggrooves 122 arranged on a wearing-part attachment 12 which is fixed tothe working member with several fixing bolts 123. The wearing-partattachment 12 has a leading end face 121 facing in the working directionof the working member 1 and facing a rear portion 113 of the wearingpart 11.

A protection element 13 is arranged between the leading end face 121 ofthe wearing-part attachment 12 and the rear portion 113 of the wearingpart 11. The protection element 13 is formed from a plate 130 forming awearing portion 135 in an upper portion 133. In the figures, the wearingportion 135 is shown as a plate element 135′ fixed to an upper portion134 of a leading side surface 132 of the plate 130 in a suitable mannerknown to a person skilled in the art. If made from a metal, for examplehard metal (carbide steel or the like), the plate element 135′ may befixed by means of soldering, or, if it is made from a non-metallicmaterial, for example a ceramic material, be fixed by means of anadhesive. The protection element 13 extends higher up than a top surface124 of the wearing-part attachment 12, so that the top surface 124 liesshielded behind the protection element 13.

In an embodiment not shown, an upper plate portion 133 is coated with ahard metal, for example by vaporing or welding, or treated in such a waythat a hardness-increasing substance is added to the molecular structureof the plate portion 133, for example by a supply of carbon in acarbidizing process or nitrogen in a nitrating process.

A lower plate portion forms an attachment portion 131 with a sectionalprofile 136 complementary to the cross section of the quick-couplingelement 112 of the wearing part 11, see FIG. 4 in particular.

When the wearing part 11 is being attached to the wearing-partattachment 12, the protection element 13 is inserted between thequick-coupling holders 111 of the wearing part 11, so that the sectionalprofile 136 of the attachment portion 131 engages with thequick-coupling elements 112 of the wearing part 11. Then the wearingpart 11 is connected to the wearing-part attachment 12, the protectionelement 13 then coming to lie in front of the leading end face 121 ofthe wearing-part attachment 12. In an operative state, the flow of loosemass, for example earth, will push the protection element 13 against thewearing-part attachment 12, and the wearing portion 135 retards the wearon the protection element 13 so that it maintains its protective effecton the wearing-part attachment 12.

The effect has turned out to be surprisingly large, which testing of theprotection element 13 provided with a wearing portion 135 only on partof the width of the protection element 13 has shown. While the portionof the top surface 124 that was protected by a plate element 135′ showedinsignificant wear, the portion of the top surface 124 that was notprotected had worn down several millimeters in the course of a few days'use on a plough.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wearing part arrangement for a leadingedge of a working member of an earth-working implement, the wearing partarrangement comprising a wearing part, a wearing-part attachment, and aprotection element, the protection element comprising: a leading sidesurface including a wearing portion; and an attachment portionconfigured to attach to the wearing part, wherein the protection elementis configured to be arranged, by engagement of the attachment portionwith at least quick-coupling elements of the wearing part, to be held inposition between the wearing part and the wearing-part attachment of theworking member and rest supportedly against a leading end face of thewearing-part attachment, projecting above a plane coinciding with a topsurface of the wearing-part attachment, wherein the protection elementis formed as a flat plate, wherein the attachment portion is providedwith notches, projecting portions, or a combination thereofcomplementary to a cross-sectional shape of the quick-coupling elementsof the wearing part, wherein the attachment portion has a sectionalprofile complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the quick-couplingelements of the wearing part, wherein the wearing portion is arranged atan upper portion of the flat plate, and wherein the attachment portionis arranged at a lower portion of the flat plate.
 2. The wearing partarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wearing portion isarranged at a distance from the attachment portion.
 3. The wearing partarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wearing portion comprisesat least one of a plate element fixed to the flat plate by soldering orgluing, a coating applied to the flat plate in vapor form, or an upperplate portion with a hardness-increasing substance added to a molecularstructure thereof.
 4. The wearing part arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the wearing portion is a plate element fixed to the flat plateby soldering or gluing, and wherein the plate element is formed fromcarbide steel.
 5. The wearing part arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the wearing portion is a plate element fixed to the flat plateby soldering or gluing, and wherein the plate element is formed fromceramic.
 6. The wearing part arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe wearing portion comprises a plate element fixed to the flat plate.7. The wearing part arrangement according to claim 1, wherein thewearing portion comprises a coating applied to the flat plate.
 8. Thewearing part arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wearingportion comprises a hardness-increasing substance added to a molecularstructure thereof.
 9. A method of wear-protecting a wearing partarrangement for a leading edge of a working member of an earth-workingimplement, the wearing part arrangement comprising a wearing part, awearing-part attachment, and a protection element formed as a flatplate, the wearing-part attachment being provided with complementaryquick-coupling elements, the method comprising the following steps:bringing an attachment portion of the protection element into engagementbetween quick-coupling holders at a rear wearing-part portion of thewearing part, the attachment portion having a sectional profilecomplementary to a cross-sectional shape of a quick-coupling element ofthe wearing part and being provided with notches, projecting portions,or a combination thereof complementary to the cross-sectional shape ofthe quick-coupling element of the wearing part; connecting the wearingpart and the wearing-part attachment to each other by engagement of thequick-coupling elements; and placing the protection element supportedlyagainst a leading end face of the wearing-part attachment such that theprotection element projects above a plane coinciding with a top surfaceof the wearing-part attachment, wherein a wearing portion is arranged atan upper portion of the flat plate, and wherein an attachment portion isarranged at a lower portion of the flat plate, the attachment portionbeing configured to attach to the wearing part.
 10. An earth-workingimplement comprising: a wearing part configured as a leading edge of aworking member having quick-coupling elements; a wearing-part attachmenthaving a quick-coupling element that complements the quick-couplingelements of the wearing part; and a protection element, the protectionelement comprising a leading side surface including a wearing portion;and an attachment portion having a sectional profile complementary to across-sectional shape of the quick-coupling elements of the wearingpart, wherein the protection element is configured to be arranged, byengagement of the attachment portion with at least the quick-couplingelements of the wearing part, to be held in position between the wearingpart and the wearing-part attachment and rest supportedly against aleading end face of the wearing-part attachment, projecting above aplane coinciding with a top surface of the wearing-part attachment, andwherein the protection element is formed as a flat plate, wherein theattachment portion is provided with notches, projecting portions, or acombination thereof complementary to the cross-sectional shape of thequick-coupling elements of the wearing part, wherein the wearing portionis arranged at an upper portion of the flat plate, and wherein theattachment portion is arranged at a lower portion of the flat plate. 11.The earth-working implement according to claim 10, wherein theearth-working implement comprises a plough or a cultivator.